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INVESTIGATORS REPORT P-47 THAT CRASHED INTO THE HUDSON RIVER HAD ENGINE DAMAGE:

Federal investigators report that a damaged engine cylinder was found on the World War II era Republic P-47 Thunderbolt that crashed into the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey last May, killing its pilot.

Photo: AP

Newsday reports ( http://nwsdy.li/296vZe2 ) the National Transportation Safety Board says that findings are consistent with an “in-flight occurrence” that caused the pilot to issue a distress call to air traffic controllers on May 27.

The Thunderbolt crashed while doing a promotion for the American Airpower Museum on Long Island, during a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the P-47 Thunderbolt.

Scuba divers recovered the body of pilot William Gordon several hours after the crash.

The report issued by the federal investigators earlier this month doesn’t say what caused the engine cylinder damage, but says there also was oil on the engine’s exterior.

The investigation is ongoing and more hopefully more details will come to light about the cause of the fatal crash.